Romans, and five of the Jews, with some mercenaries among them, and with some few horsemen, and came to Jericho. And as they found the city deserted, but that five hundred of them had settled themselves on the tops of the hills, with their wives and children, those he took, an I sent away. Butthe Romans fell upon the city, and plundered it; and found the houses full of all sorts of good things. So the king left a garrison at Jericho, and came back again; and sent the Roman army to take their winter quarters in the countries that were come over to him: Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria. And so much did Antigonus gain of Silo for the bribes he gave him, that part of the army should be quartered at Lidda; in order to please Antony. So the Romans laid their weapons aside, and lived in plenty of all things.

Herod, however, was not pleased with lying still; but sent out his brother Joseph against Idumea, with two thousand aimed footmen, and four hundred horsemen while himself came to Samaria, and left his mother and his other relations there; for they were already gone out of Massada; and went into Galilee, to take certain places which were held by the garrisons of Antigonus. And he passed on to Sepphoris, as God sent a snow, while Antigonus's garrisons withdrew themselves; and had great plenty of provisions. He also went thence, and resolved to destroy those robbers that dwelt in the caves, and did much mischief in the country. So he sent a troop of horsemen, and three companies of armed footmen against them. They were very near a village called Aibela. And on the fortieth day after he came himself, with his whole army. And as the enemy sallied out boldly upon him, the left wing of his army gave way. But he appearing with a body of men, put those to flight who were already conquerors, and recalled his men that jan away. He also pressed upon his enemies, and pursued them as far as the river Jordan, though they ran away by different roads. So he brought over to him all Galilee, excepting those that dwelt in the caves; and distributed money to every one of his soldiers; giving them a hundred and fifty drachmæ apiece, and much more to their captains; and sent them into winter quarters. At which time Silo came to him, and his commanders with him, because Antigonus would not give them provisions any longer: for he supplied them for no more than one month. Nay he had sent to all the country about, and ordered them to carry off the provisions that were there, and retire to the mountains, that the Romans might have no provisions to live upon, and so might perish by famine. But Herod committed the care of that matter to Pheroras, his youngest brother, and ordered him to repair Alexandrium. Accordingly he quickly made the soldiers abound with great plenty

of provisions, and rebuilt Alexandrium, which had been before desolate.

About this time it was that Antony continued some time at Athens; and Ventidius, who was now in Syria, sent for Silo, and commanded him to assist Herod in the first place to finish the present war, and then to send for their confederates, for the war they themselves were engaged in. But as for He

rod, he went in haste against the robbers that were in the caves, and sent Silo away to Ventidius while he marched against them. These caves were in mountains that were exceeding abrupt; and in their middle were no other than precipices, with certain entrances into the caves; and those caves were encompassed with sharp rocks. And in these did the robbers lie concealed, with all their families about them. But the king caused certain chests to be made, in order to destroy them, and to be hung down, bound about with iron chains, by an engine, from the top of the mountains. It being not possible to get up to them by reason of the sharp ascent of the nountains; nor to creep down to them from above. Now these chests were filled with armed men, who had long hooks in their hands, by which they might pull out such as resisted them, and then tumble them down, and kill them by so doing. But the letting the chests down proved to be a matter of great danger, because of the vast depth they were to be let down; although they had their provisions in the chests themselves. But when the chests were let down, and not one of those in the mouths of the caves durst come near them, but lay still out of fear, some of the armed men girt on their armor, and by, both of their hands took hold of the chain by which the chests were let down, and went into the mouths of the caves, because they fretted that such delay was made, by the robbers not daring to come out of the caves. And when they were at any of those mouths, they first killed many of those that were in the mouths with their darts; and afterwards pulled those to them that resisted them, with their hooks, and tumbled them down the precipices, and afterwards went into the caves, and killed many more; and then went into their chests again, and lay still there. But upon this, terror seized the rest, when they heard the lamentations that were made; and they despaired of escaping. However, when the night came on, that put an end to the whole work. And as the king proclaimed pardon by a herald to such as delivered themselves up to him, many accepted of the offer. The same method of assault was made use of the next day: and they went farther, and got out in baskets to fight them, and, fought them at their doors, and sent fire among them, and set their caves on fire; for there was a great deal of combustible matter within them. Now there was one old man who was caught within one

of

of these caves, with a wife and seven children; these prayed him to give them leave to go out, and yield themselves up to the enemy; but he stood at the cave's mouth, and always slew that child of his who went out, until he had destroyed them every one ; and after that he slew his wife, and cast their dead bodies down the precipice, and himself after them; and so underwent death rather than slavery. before he did this, he greatly reproached Herod with the meanness of his family; although he was then king. Herod also saw what he was doing, and stretched out his hand, and offered him all manner of security for his life. By which means all these caves were at length subdued entirely.

But

When the king had sent Ptolemy over these parts of the country, as his general, he went to Samaria, with six hundred horsemen, and three thousand armed fooumen, as intending to fight Antigonus. But still this command of the army did not succeed well with Ptolemy; but those that had been troublesome to Galilee before attacked him, and slew him; and when they had done this, they fled among the lakes, and places almost inaccessible, laying waste and plundering whatsoever they could come at in those places. But Herod soon returned, and punished them for what they had done. For some of these rebels he slew; and others of them, who had fled to the strong holds, he besieged, and both slew them, and demolished their strong holds. And when he had thus put an end to their rebellion, he laid a fine upon the cities of a hundred talents.

In the mean time Pacorus was fallen in a battle; and the Parthians were defeated, when Ventidius sent Macheras to the assistance of Herod, with two legions, and a thousand horsemen; while Antony encouraged him to make haste. But Macheras, at the instigation of Antigonus, without the approbation of Herod, as being corrupted by money, went about to take a view of his affairs. But Antigonus suspecting this intention of his coming, did not admit him into the city, but kept him at a distance with slinging stones at him; and plainly shewed what he himself meant. But when Macheras was sensible that Herod had given him good advice, and that he had made a mistake in not hearkening to that advice, he retired to the city Emmaus: and what Jews he met with he slew, whether they were enemies or friends; out of the rage he was in at what hardships he had undergone. The king was provoked at this conduct, and went to Samaria, and resolved to go to Antony about these affairs, and to inform him that he stood in no need of such helpers, who did him more mischief than they did his enemies and that he was able of himself to beat Antigonus. But Macheras followed him, and desired that he would not go to Antony; or if he were re*On the 18th of July, according to Pagi.

solved to go, that he would join his brother Joseph with him, and let them fight against Antigonus. So he was reconciled to Macheras, upon his earnest intreaties. Accordingly he left Joseph there with his army; but charged him to run no hazards, nor to quarrel with Macheras.

But for his own part, he hastened to Antony; (who was then at the siege of Samosata, a place upon Euphrates,) with his troops, both horsemen and footmen, to be auxiliaries to him. And when he came to Antioch, and met there a great number of men that were very desirous to go to Antony, but durst not venture to go out of fear, because the Barbarians fell upon men on the road and slew many; he encouraged them, and became their conductor upon the road. Now when they were within two days march of Samosata, the Barbarians had laid an ambush to disturb those that came to Antony: and where the woods made the passes narrow, as they led to the plains, there they laid not a few of their horsemen who were to lię still until those passengers were gone by, into the wide place. Now as soon as the first ranks were gone by, (for Herod brought on the rear,) those that lay in ambush, who were about five hundred, fell upon them on the sudden and when they had put the foremost to flight, the king came riding hard, with the forces that were about him; and immediately drove back the enemy. By which means he emboldened his own men to go on: insomuch that those who ran away before, now returned back; and the Barba rians were slain. on all sides. The king also went on killing them, and recovered all the baggage: among which were a great number of beasts for burden, and of slaves: and proceeded on in his march. And whereas there were a great number of those in the woods that attacked them, and were near the passage that led into the plain, he made a sally upon these also, with a strong body of men, and put them to flight, and slew many of them: and thereby rendered the way safe for those that came after. And these called Herod their saviour and protector.

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And when he was near to Samosata, Antony sent out his army in all their proper habiliments to meet him, in order to pay Herod this respect and because of the assistance he had given him. For he had heard what attacks the Barbarians had made upon him in Judea. He also was very glad to see him there; as having been made acquainted with the great actions he had performed upon the road. So he entertained him very kindly, and could not but admire his courage. Antony also embraced him, as soon as he saw him, and saluted him after a most affectionate manner, and gave him the upper hand, as having himself lately made him a king. And in a little time Antiochus delivered up the fortress: and

on that account this war was at an end. Then Antony committed the rest to Sosius, and gave him orders to assist Herod, and went himself to Egypt. Accordingly Sosius sent two legions before into Judea, to the assistance of Herod; and he followed himself with the body of the army.

Now Joseph was already slain in Judea, in the following manner. He forgot what charge his brother Herod had given him, when he went to Antony. And when he had pitched his camp among the mountains; (for Macheras had lent him five regiments;) he went hastily to Jericho, in order to reap the corn thereto belonging. And as the Roman regiments were but newly raised, and were unskilful in war; for they were in great part collected out of Syria: he was attacked by the enemy, and caught in those places of difficulty; and was himself slain, as he was fighting bravely: and the whole army was lost. For there were six regiments slain.. So when Antigonus had got possession of the dead bodies, he cut off Joseph's head; although Pheroras his brother would have redeemed it at the price of fifty talents. After this defeat the Galileans revolted from their commanders, and took those of Herod's party, and drowned them in the lake: and a great part of Judea was become seditious. But Macheras fortified the place Gitta, in Samaria.

At this time messengers came to Herod, and informed him of what had been done: and when he was come to Daphne by Antioch, they told him of the ill fortune that had befallen his brother. But this he had expected, from certain visions that appeared to him in his dreams; which clearly foreshewed his brother's death. So he hastened his march: and when he came to mount Libanus, be received about eight hundred of the men of that place: having already with him also one Roman legion: and with these he came to Ptolemais. He also marched thence by night with his army, and proceeded along Galilee. Here it was that the enemy met him, and fought him, and were defeated, and shut up in the same place of strength, whence they had sallied out the day before. So he attacked the place in the morning. But by reason of a great storm that was then very viclent, he was able to do nothing; but drew off his army into the neighboring villages. Yet as soon as the other legion that Antony sent him was come to his assistance, those that were in garrison in the place were afraid; and deserted it in the night time. Then did the king march hastily to Jericho, intending to avenge himself on the enemy, for the slaughter of his brother. And when he had pitched his tents, he made a feast for the principal

It may be worthy our observation here, that these soldiers of Herod's could not have gotten upon the tops of these houses which were full of enemies, in order to pull The up upper floors, and destroy them beneath, but by ladVOL. I. NO. XXIX.

commanders; and after this collation was over, and he had dismissed his guests, he retired to his own chamber. And here may one see what kindness God had for the king. For the upper part of the house fell down, when no body was in it; and so. killed none: insomuch that all the people believed that Herod was beloved of God; since he had escaped such a great and surprising danger.

But the next day six thousand of the enemy came down from the tops of the mountains to fight the Romans; which greatly terrified them. And the soldiers that were in light armor came near, and pelted the king's guards that were come out, with darts and stones: and one of them struck him on the side with a dart. Antigonus also sent a commander against Samaria, whose name was Pappus, with some forces: being desirous to shew the enemy how potent he was; and that he had men to spare in his war with them. He sat down to oppose Macheras. But Herod, when he had taken five cities, took such as were left in them, being about two thousand and slew them, and burnt the cities themselves; and then returned to go against Pappus, who was encamped at a village called Isanas. And there ran in to him many out of Jericho and Judea, near to which places he was: and the enemy fell upon his men, so stout were they at this time, and joined battle with them. But he defeated them in the fight; and in order to be revenged on them for the slaughter of his brother, he pursued them sharply, and killed them, as they ran away. *And as the houses were full of armed men, and many of them an as far as the tops of the houses, he got them under his power, and pulled down the roofs of the houses: and saw the lower rooms full of soldiers that were caught, and lay all on a heap. So they threw stones down upon them, as they lay piled one upon another; and thereby killed them. Nor was there a more frightful spectacle in all the war than this: where beyond the walls an immense multitude of dead men lay heaped one upon another. This action it was which chiefly damped the spirits of the enemy; who expected now what would come. For there appeared a mighty number of people, that came from places far distant, that were now about the village, but then ran away. And had it not been for the depth of winter, which then restrained them, the king's army had presently gone to Jerusalem: as being very courageous at this good success: and the whole work had been done immediately. For Antigonus was already considering how he might flee away, and leave the city?

At this time the king gave order that the soldiers ders from the outside: which illustrates some texts in the New Testament, by which it appears that men used to ascend. thither by ladders on the outside. See Matth. xxiv. 17. Mark xiii. 15. Luke,v. 19. xvii. 31. 5 H

should